Notre Dame football: Lineman from Indy playing large role for Irish

4:34 PM,
Nov. 7, 2012

Zack Martin #70 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish awaits the start of play against the University of South Florida Bulls at Notre Dame Stadium on September 3, 2011 in South Bend, Indiana. South Florida defeated Notre Dame 23-20. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Written by

Brian Hamilton
Chicago Tribune

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Opposition defenses ran stunts and blitzed and the coaches might be a series or two behind, puzzling out the schemes. There were no eyes overhead, no cameras to capture the action. But there was Zack Martin. And when he trotted to the sideline, he reported in detail what he saw, that everyone else could not.

So coaches immediately pursued adjustments. Linemen knew what to do because Martin effectively told them. Thus the St. Matthew Warriors of Indianapolis CYO football solved problems via a player who was no tackle dummy: Zack Martin, who was also about 12 or 13 years old at the ...